Treasure Coast Equine Emergency Services

04/21/2025

𝑴𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 – 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝑰 𝒅𝒐???
-- Stay calm. Keep your horse quiet and calm.
-- Remove all food. Offer water only from the ground.
-- DO NOT PUT ANYTHING INTO THE HORSE’S MOUTH
-- Massage the left side of the neck. If you feel a lump, concentrate there. Work from the jaw down towards the shoulder.
-- If signs do not resolve in 30 minutes, call your veterinarian. Do not wait overnight thinking it will pass.
-- Aspiration pneumonia risk increases as time goes by – this can be fatal. Speak to your veterinarian about antibiotics after the choke has resolved.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒌𝒆?
• Choke is an esophageal obstruction due to feed material – grain, hay, or, less commonly, things like hedge apples, carrots, etc. Rarely, foreign objects like pieces of wood, rocks, etc. are found.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒔?
• Signs include gagging, saliva and mucus from the nostrils and mouth, coughing, retching. Some horses may roll or paw as if they are colicky.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒔?
• Improper dentition – sharp points, missing teeth, loose teeth
• Eating too fast – not chewing enough prior to swallowing
• Not enough saliva
• Stricture in the esophagus from previous choke, tumor

𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒌𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒅?
• If the choke does not resolve on its own, your veterinarian should be called.
• While waiting for the vet, massage the neck for 10 minutes. Then walk the horse for 10 minutes - move the head side to side and up and down. Then place the horse in a stall for 10 minutes and leave alone. Repeat this sequence until your vet arrives.
• The horse will be evaluated – heart rate, temperature, respiratory rate, lung sounds.
• The horse will be sedated heavily to encourage the head to be low to the ground. This serves multiple purposes: pain management, relaxation of the esophagus, and
encourage gravity flow of all water instilled into the esophagus via the nasogastric tube.
• A nasogastric tube is passed into the esophagus to the level of the obstruction. Water is flushed and the tube pressed against the obstruction to get it to move into the stomach.
• Sometimes, the obstruction is too extensive, too dry, or is not feed material. Some of these cases require referral to a clinic for endoscopy, IV fluid therapy, and further care.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔?
• Dehydration and electrolyte loss. Since the horse cannot drink and is losing sometimes large amounts of saliva, the horse can become dehydrated quickly if left unresolved. Initially, the gut will dehydrate – as the body pulls water from the GI tract into the
circulation. If the situation continues to be unresolved, the horse will become systemically dehydrated.
• Aspiration pneumonia is a real and significant risk. The risk increases as time goes by. Pleuropneumonia (where the infection results in fluid within the chest) can occur as quickly as 12 hours after a choke episode if left untreated. Antibiotics after a choke
episode are frequently required to prevent pneumonia. The type of antibiotic is based on veterinarian preference, how long the choke had been going on, and the patient status (age, other health concerns).
• Stricture at the obstruction site. This can occur if the obstruction is left or if the material is damaging enough to cause a circumferential scar which shrinks down to cause a stricture.

𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒌𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅?
• Regular dental exams and floats. Young and old horses should have exams twice a year, middle aged horses once a year.
• If your horse has choked in the past, using a pelleted diet that is easily digested can be helpful.
• Soaking the feed can help slow down eating and also help the feed pass through the esophagus.
• Using large rocks or slow feeder pans can help reduce bolting of food. Feeding separated can also help reduce speed-eating due to bullies.
• Feed from the ground – this has been shown to increase chewing, increase saliva production, and slow the horse down when eating.

04/18/2025

I’m heading to Vero for a call. If you’re in that area or Fellsmere and you have anything thinking of having an emergency or you’ve been sitting on it all week wondering if it will get better and it hasn’t, text me at 561-510-5038. 😵‍💫

04/05/2025

THIS is why we vaccinate for rabies! GRAPHIC VIDEO. This shows a horse in the last throes of rabies. I've shown other videos on this page. It is NOT something to mess with.

A simple vaccine could have prevented this. Now this horse is dead, the one it attacked is dead, and everyone involved needed post-exposure vaccines.

One simple vaccine could have prevented this.

Please vaccinate for rabies.

04/04/2025

These resources are available if you need them after the loss of your pet - whether horse, dog, cat, etc.

Please reach out or share these resources if you or someone you know needs them.

04/01/2025

Exciting news!

To improve emergency response times, we’re rolling out mandatory GPS tracking for all clients.

Every owner will have an ankle bracelet linked to our system so we can locate you instantly when you call for an emergency. No more ‘I’m somewhere past the third oak tree’ or ‘turn left after the fluffy cows’ nonsense!

The program launches today, and we need volunteers to test it. Who’s in?!

03/21/2025

03/19/2025

Colic - EARLY REFERRAL IMPROVES CHANCES

A recent article in FAEPs The Practitioner by Dr David Freeman, equine surgeon specializing in colic surgery highlights the importance of early referral for colic surgery for best outcome.

The longer one waits, the worse the strangulated lesion becomes and the outcomes worsen. Early referral has been shown to improve survival after large colon volvulus, ileal impactions, inguinal hernia, and epiploic foramen entrapment. Risk of postoperative ileus (where the intestines stop moving, causing pain and increasing costs due to IV fluid requirements) and diarrhea after surgery is also reduced.

When I receive a call for a colic, I ask a series of questions. How old is the horse... what kind of hay is fed... is it passing manure... have you given Banamine and what was the response... The answers to these questions often lead to a preliminary diagnosis before I've seen the patient and can help direct what the next steps should be.

For instance, if the horse is over 20 years old, the chances of a strangulating lipoma are very high. I know I'm going to have to ultrasound the horse immediately and can make recommendations based on this.

A horse on coastal hay - especially one that has recently gotten a new round bale - that horse will likely need to come to my facility because it often needs more than one visit's worth of treatment to resolve the impaction in the small intestine.

If it is passing manure - this means the large colon is likely working and we have an issue with the stomach or small intestine. Those areas are less forgiving than the large colon and likely need more attention than a quick colic exam and treatment.

Some myths we've heard from owners:
1. Colic surgery is rarely successful.
- It actually has a success rate of 80% for small intestinal strangulation. We wouldn't recommend it otherwise!
2. We should try medical management first.
- If there is strong evidence for a strangulating lesion, quick surgical management relieves suffering and results in better outcomes.
3. The horse will never be the same after surgery.
- Most horses return to previous use, even in athletic competition at the highest level. In fact, the Kentucky Derby Winner of 1992 had colic surgery!
4. The mare is pregnant and there is no way to save the mare and foal with surgery.
- Mares can foal normally and deliver a live foal any time after colic surgery, provided the surgery is done promptly.

When do we determine whether surgery is possibly needed?
- Pain unresponsive to Banamine and sedatives. If you tell me the horse did not respond at all to Banamine given an hour prior, that horse has a good chance of needing surgery or at least hospitalization for fluid therapy and pain management.
- Reflux from the stomach (vomiting via the tube). This means the drain (small intestine) is plugged and the fluids (saliva and gastric juices) are backing up into the sink (stomach).
- Worsening abdominal distention (gas bloating)
- Small intestinal distention (strangulated small intestine) or lateral colonic vessel found on ultrasound (large colon displacement).
- Facial abrasions over the eyes.
- Belonging to a high-risk group (age >20 y, miniature horse, postpartum mares, intact males, on coastal hay, cribbers).

What happens when I recommend referral?
- I will refer you to one of our local clinics.
- Even if I have examined the horse and performed diagnostics, the clinic will repeat everything and then some. Things change with transport. Sometimes the colic will resolve. Sometimes the horse deteriorates. I try to limit my exam in the field if suspicions are high enough because of this - but sometimes all the diagnostics are needed in order to make the call to send the horse.
- Depending on the findings at the clinic, the horse may be placed in a stall with fluids if diagnostics are not definitive to suggest surgery is needed right away - or they may be taken straight to surgery.

Costs...
Cost is probably the biggest reason someone does not pursue referral. And I get it. It's a big decision. It may be helpful to have it in your mind what you would do for your horse if referral is recommended. If surgery is not an option but diagnostics are not definitive to suggest surgery is required, I can hospitalize the horse at my facility and try to resolve the colic with fluid therapy and pain management. This can run anywhere from $500-1500 or more depending on how the horse responds and the level of care needed. If surgery is an option, I will recommend going straight to the referral clinic so that the horse is there and within walking distance of the surgery suite if and when the time comes. We are so lucky to have 2 surgery centers within an hour or two of the Treasure Coast area.

I highly recommend insurance for horses. It can be customized to your needs. Platinum Performance Colic Care offers $10,000 towards colic surgery if the horse is on their program. Referral centers also take Care Credit. I take ScratchPay.

If you're a follower of this page, you know that many colics are preventable. Unfortunately, some like strangulating lipomas are not, and we need to be prepared for the possibility that more help may be needed.

Feel free to ask questions about colic surgery and referral below!

03/10/2025

Gonna get on my soapbox here since it's breeding and foaling season.

Horse gestation is ELEVEN MONTHS LONG. Do you know what you can be doing during those 11 months? READING. WATCHING FOALING VIDEOS. PREPARING FOR THE FOAL.

There is no reason (except getting a mare you didn't know was pregnant) why you should wait until the week before foaling to ask what you should do/know/prep for.

I and your vets are happy to help with specific questions, but to answer blanket "what should I do" questions is impossible. Ringing your vet on a Sunday afternoon to ask what to prep for is also not appropriate (yes, I've gotten several of these calls).

Breeding a mare is not a "set it and forget it" situation. Yes, the mare does most of the work but you need to help them along. You need to know what to do during the gestation for the mare and the foal. And foaling, although most go well, when they don't - they go really bad really fast. Knowing what is normal will help you know what is abnormal.

We recommend getting books on the subject (and READ THEM). A good one is pictured below. There are others.

This website is an excellent resource as well: https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/.../foal-mare-care

Watch YouTube videos of normal foalings. Know what stage 1 labor looks like. Stage 2. What is the normal presentation of the foal (2 feet and a nose) and what to do if you don't see this presentation. Know when to intervene and when to leave alone. Know the foal and mare benchmarks (1/2/3: 1 hr to stand, 2 hr to nurse, 3 hr to pass placenta) and when to call vet (double those times). Have a plan if your foal doesn't get enough colostrum.

Have a plan if your foal is a dummy foal or becomes sick. Do you have a trailer to haul the mare/foal if needed. Do you have referral clinics within reasonable hauling distance (we have many!). Most of us are not equipped to handle a sick foal in the field. It does no one justice - you need staff, time, lab machines, and a controlled environment to handle a critical case like a sick foal. In most cases, I will refer a sick foal to a clinic immediately rather than waste time or money in the field. Save my ER, trip, exam fees and the foal's time by getting to the clinic fast for best outcomes.

As the time gets closer, ask your vet/vet practice what their policy is on dystocias, sick foals, and when they like to do the post-foaling mare/foal exam.

Remember, 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐏𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!

03/06/2025

It’s rollercoaster temperature time and you know what that means… COLIC!

Please add salt to your feed - this increases thirst and keeps the horse drinking. Watch manure - if less coming out that means more is staying in. This is bad. Act immediately versus waiting until it’s a much bigger deal.

And watch your wooly mammoths who haven’t gotten with the shedding program - they’re gonna overheat

Remember, Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Pooping! 💩

03/02/2025

Thought for the day. Vet bills.

Horses cost money. Horses get sick. They can manage to injure themselves in a padded room. On a daily basis, horses contemplate homicide or su***de. I'm here for the latter.

I'd love to do this for free. But that's not how the world works.

I try to keep costs low but you're still paying for the convenience of having an emergency vet available almost all of the time versus waiting for your regular vet. I don't charge for phone consults or referrals or the countless hours guiding/researching/discussing your case with colleagues.

Below is the current accounts receivable for TCEES. It's a relatively low number compared to some others but it's significant for a very small business such as mine. This doesn't include the $13,000 a rescue owes me nor does it include ones I've written off 3+ years ago.

I offer multiple methods of payment, all but one with no fees. I offer many ways of making payments. I've had an $800 bill take 2 years to pay off - but since they were making payments, we were good. Not ideal, but it is what it is. I offer ScratchPay and AfterPay. This gets me paid but lets you pay over time.

Emergencies happen and I know most don't have $500-1000 laying around. But you have a duty to pay for services rendered to the horse that you own. If you cannot afford that, even with payments spread out over time, you should not own the horse. Period. Yep, I said it.

If you owe TCEES, please reach out. I'm a reasonable person. Send $25 a week. Hell, a month! I don't care. Let's start making a dent in these outstanding bills.

02/04/2025

Guess we are no longer participating in winter!

It’s hot out there guys - 🥵

Our wooly mammoths are suffering. Let’s get them clipped asap before trouble starts.

If you see your horse with flaring nostrils and breathing fast, get them in and under fans and hosed off. Encourage water intake.

We have tons of people able to clip in the treasure coast area - please post in Treasure Coast Equestrian and you’ll have tons of options. A clip is cheaper than an emergency colic call!

Your horse and your wallet will thank you! 😊

Remember the Ps: Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Pooping! 💩

01/17/2025

This weather has us shaking our heads! 🤦‍♀️

This weekend will be unseasonably warm. 🥵

Please watch your furry friends for heat issues - breathing fast, red gums, colic. If you have a woolly mammoth, please bring inside under fans 💨 , especially if you do not have shade for them to hide in. Ensure they are drinking enough water. Continue to add salt to their feed!

While we are talking about warm weather, North Florida is preparing for SNOW! For those that watch this page, please prepare NOW.

01/03/2025

This weekend we will see colder temps than usual but also combined with high temps during the day.

It’s times like these that colics occur. Horses drink less during cold weather - drinking less leads to impactions - impactions can lead to worse things like displacements and colon torsions - both lead to expensive vet bills.

Here’s some ways to prevent colic during these weather changes:

We all know the adage to give more hay when it’s cold as this warms a horse from the inside.

However, horses don’t drink as much in cold weather.

Lots of hay + little drinking = colic.

- Increase water intake.
--- Ensure your troughs and buckets are very clean. Empty and scrub with soap and bleach and rinse well. Algae and other muck growing can turn a horse away from a water trough.
--- Ensure the water trough or bucket is not near an electrical source such as a hot wire. Stray voltage can make a horse refuse to go to the trough. Heated buckets can also have a short - and it’s not always detectable by you!
--- Did you get a new horse? The flavor of the water may have changed. Add flavoring to the water to mask the change or get a 5 gallon jug of drinking water from Walmart or other store.
--- Color of the bucket - amazingly, horses have preferences when given options of colors. They prefer turquoise or light blue buckets to drink out of. https://bit.ly/30GPbsv
--- Add salt to feed. Here’s a very basic explanation of why salt increases thirst: https://bit.ly/38yylQX Commercially available electrolytes may or may not have enough salt to increase the thirst in horses. If they are not losing electrolytes through sweat, they do not need electrolytes. Sodium chloride is what increases thirst. Do not use Lite Salt as this is potassium chloride and it will not have the same effect. 1-2 tablespoons on the feed divided over the day on the meals should be sufficient. Salt blocks can help but only if the horse voluntarily goes to them and uses them.
--- Other flavoring: Gatorade water - I have found that they like orange flavored best but others can be tried. Molasses water. Alfalfa tea - soak alfalfa for a while and then remove the stems - leave the leaves.
--- Fake them out: add a handful of grain such as sweet feed or senior to a much larger amount of water. They think they are eating but are mostly drinking. Hydration hay with more water than recommended is also helpful. Handful of hay pellets in a large amount of water can also be used. In general, if you have a large colon impaction that you are trying to gut hydrate, you do not want to add a lot of bulk to the dam that is present in the colon. So using low residue feeds such as senior pellets or hay pellets is better than straight hay or hay cubes.
--- Grazing wet grass. Grass itself contains a lot of water. But we can add more by spraying it down before the horse grazes.

- Watch your horse's manure. If you notice smaller, more well-formed f***l balls, this is an indication that an impaction is imminent. The horse is drawing water out of their gut to hydrate their body. THIS is the time for action - decrease hay, increase water intake.

Remember, Proper Prevention Prevents Poor Pooping! 💩

If you have additional helpful tips, please comment below.

12/29/2024

Attention horse owners, this is a PSA!

New Years is coming near!

Things you can do:

• Ask your local neighborhood to consider pets, horses, and military personnel in their plans for fireworks displays. Be aware of who will be setting off fireworks.

• Plan ahead. If your horse is normally stalled at night, bring them in a little early, get them settled with plenty of hay. Consider cotton in the ears to dampen the noise. Play a radio. Keep the routine as much the same as possible.

• If your horse is normally outside - ensure all sharp edges are covered/taken care of. Debris in the paddock that normally lives there (mowers, vehicles, various barn debris) should be removed as horses that are running at night may not care where they go. Consider cotton in the ears to dampen the noise.

• REMEMBER TO REMOVE THE COTTON AFTER. 😊

• Have a look at this article: https://thehorse.com/112440/how-to-keep-your-horse-safe-during-the-4th-of-july/

• And this article: https://thehorse.com/110527/tips-for-keeping-horses-safe-during-july-4th-festivities/

These are for 4th of July but apply to
New Years as well.

• Contact your veterinarian TOMORROW (NOT Tuesday) if you need prescription sedatives/anti-anxiety drugs. Remember, you and everyone else is calling your vet too. Get in line EARLY.

• Let's work to make this a safe holiday for everyone involved!

TheHorse.com readers and staff share their tips for preparing and keeping horses safe during 4th of July festivities.

12/07/2024

Y’all did SO good over Thanksgiving by practicing preventative horse care. Now we need you to continue it a bit longer.

Dec 8-11th is the annual American Association of Equine Practitioners equine veterinary meeting. This is where equine vets go to get up to date continuing education to stay on top of new info to help them help their patients (your horses) stay healthy for longer.

It’s in Orlando FL this year.

What does this mean for you as a horse owner? Your vet may be out of town at the meeting.

We’ve practiced for this. We are prepared, right?!

It’s a good idea to find out if your vet is going and what their emergency backup plan is - because, you know, “horses” - right?

Just a recap: practice preventative caregiving.

During this time, as an emergency only vet, I recommend the following:

- Don’t deworm your horse right now.

- Don’t start a new feed right now.

- Don’t get a new round bale of coastal hay right now if you’ve let the last one go to dust (give small amounts at a time or mix with a stemmy hay until they’ve had their fill, then give the round bale).

- Don’t change schedules.

- Don’t vaccinate your horse right now, especially if you have a known reactor.

- Don’t be in a rush and fail to soak your feed for long enough (choke risk) - especially if you’re late to feed due to holiday errands/get togethers.

- If you have visitors, limit treats. Ensure gates are closed. Make sure feed doors and bins locked.

There is already a shortage of equine vets - and the few we do have may be out of town gettin’ their education on.

Remember: Proper Preparation Prevents Poorly Pferds! 😂🥴 (ok that one was a stretch)

11/26/2024

As we enter Thanksgiving week in the US, many of your vets will be out of town or spending much needed time with their families.

It’s times like these that horse owners need to practice preventative caregiving.

During this holiday time, as an emergency only vet, I recommend the following:

- Don’t deworm your horse right now.

- Don’t start a new feed right now.

- Don’t get a new round bale of coastal hay right now if you’ve let the last one go to dust (give small amounts at a time or mix with a stemmy hay until they’ve had their fill, then give the round bale).

- Don’t change schedules.

- Don’t vaccinate your horse right now, especially if you have a known reactor.

- Don’t be in a rush and fail to soak your feed for long enough (choke risk) - especially if you’re late to feed due to holiday errands/get togethers.

- If you have visitors, limit treats. Ensure gates are closed. Make sure feed doors and bins locked.

There is already a shortage of equine vets - and the few we do have will likely be out of town or trying to enjoy the holiday.

Let’s all have a very Happy Thanksgiving. And let’s let our vets stay home with family!

Remember: Proper Preparation Prevents Postponed Potlucks! 😂🥴

11/21/2024

This is what we’ve trained for, people!

Get that salt in the feed, watch that 💩, and watch the water intake!

I’m gonna be rollin’ up to your impaction colic with this face: 😑😑😑 and a “told ya so” fee if you ain’t following my instructions!

Save your Christmas money for yourself and remember…

Proper Prevention Prevents Poor Pooping! 💩